It may be hard to believe, but riding an electric scooter is generally illegal in Quebec. According to Transports Québec spokesman Louis-André Bertrand, bicycles and scooters are allowed on bike paths, while electric bicycles are allowed as long as they have a maximum power of 500 watts and do not exceed 32 kilometers per hour. In Canada, electric scooters are not legal on public roads, but they can be used on private properties and sidewalks. In Toronto, Quebec and Vancouver, there are no legal restrictions on riding an electric scooter.
This is because there is a clear demand from residents, and electric scooters are a good and environmentally friendly method of transportation for many people in Canada. Veteran racer Michael Mili also believes that electric scooters are as safe as their bicycle counterparts, perhaps even safer. Electric scooters are much cheaper than traditional bicycles since they don't require gasoline or oil to operate. However, some passengers have received fines for “lack of insurance” for a motor vehicle, not for driving an electric scooter.
It is important that users of low-speed electric scooters receive appropriate training to drive such vehicles. Electric bikes (or “electric bikes”) and scooters allow you to move without pedaling, but there are a number of things that differentiate them. If you want to learn more about the laws surrounding the use of electric scooters in British Columbia, visit the ICBC website. As part of a pilot project across the province, GeeBee's electric scooters are currently the only motorized electric scooter allowed on Quebec's highways, according to the province's auto insurance board (SAAQ).
With more electric scooters and e-bikes touring Montreal's bike lanes, some of the city's cyclists and pedestrians are concerned about their safety. Gliding through city streets on an electric scooter can transform your daily commute to work into an exciting ride. It's not clear what users must comply with from a safety point of view, since electric scooters are loosely defined in Alberta laws. Electric scooters are becoming increasingly popular in Canada and can now be seen in cities like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
They offer a great way to reduce your daily commute to work or school while being environmentally friendly. Although provincial laws may not be optimal yet, electric scooters are here to stay.
